Maritime Professional Network: Why Sailors Need More Than LinkedIn
LinkedIn works for office professionals. But when you're a charter skipper with 5,000 nautical miles, an RYA Yachtmaster, and verified GPS tracks proving your experience, LinkedIn treats you like someone claiming 'proficient in Microsoft Excel.' The maritime industry needs a professional network that understands passage records, qualification verification, and sea time. That's Crew the Boat.
The LinkedIn Problem for Maritime Professionals
Anyone Can Endorse Anyone
On LinkedIn, your university friend who once went on a sailboat can endorse you for 'Offshore Navigation.' You can endorse your boss for 'Yachtmaster' even though you've never sailed together. Charter companies know this. That's why they don't trust LinkedIn endorsements for crew screening.
Self-Reported Skills Have No Verification
People claim RYA Yachtmaster without proving it. No certificate number validation. No third-party verification with issuing bodies. Charter companies can't trust LinkedIn profiles.
Generic Experience Format
LinkedIn shows 'job titles' not passage records. No way to track nautical miles, night hours, waters experience. Can't demonstrate RYA qualifying miles for progression. Sea time is invisible — the most important metric in maritime careers.
No Maritime-Specific Features
No logbook integration. No GPS track verification. No understanding of maritime role hierarchy (Captain vs Crew). Missing: Night hours tracking, weather severity records, vessel types.
How Crew the Boat Solves This for Sailors
Passage-Based Endorsements Only
Endorsements require confirmed shared sailing passages. System automatically links to passage records. Can't endorse someone you haven't sailed with. Verification methods: GPS-verified (1.0 trust), auto-matched vessel (0.7 trust), manual invite (0.6 trust).
Third-Party Qualification Verification
Government ID verification (passport/driving licence). RYA/MCA certificate validation with issuing bodies. Certificate number format validation. Document upload with retention schedule. Verified badge on profiles.
Digital Logbook with GPS Proof
Track every passage: role, miles, night hours, waters. GPX file import from chart plotters. Automatic distance calculation using haversine formula. Sailing CV generation: total miles by role, vessels sailed, passages count. RYA qualifying miles tracking built-in.
Maritime Role Hierarchy
12 distinct crew roles from Captain (rank 7) to Crew (rank 1). Endorsement weighting: Senior→Junior = 2.0x, GPS-verified = 1.5x. Example: Captain endorsing Deckhand on GPS passage = 3.0 weighted points. Respects maritime authority structure.
Feature Comparison: Crew the Boat vs LinkedIn vs FindACrew
Passage-Based Endorsements: Not Generic LinkedIn Recommendations
Why Anyone-Can-Endorse Doesn't Work for Sailing
On LinkedIn, your university friend who once went on a sailboat can endorse you for 'Offshore Navigation.' You can endorse your boss for 'Yachtmaster' even though you've never sailed together. Charter companies know this. That's why they don't trust LinkedIn endorsements for crew screening.
In sailing, who endorses you matters. A Yachtmaster instructor's endorsement means more than a novice crew member's. An endorsement from a Captain you sailed 500 miles with in Force 6 conditions matters more than a generic 'good sailor' from someone on Facebook.
How Passage Verification Prevents Fake Endorsements
Crew the Boat endorsements require proof:
- Passage Participant Confirmation: Both sailors must confirm they sailed together on a specific passage
- Automatic Role Population: System auto-fills endorser role (Skipper) and recipient role (Crew) from passage records
- GPS Verification Bonus: If both sailors logged GPS tracks for the same voyage, endorsement gets 1.5x trust multiplier
- Vessel Matching: Auto-detection when multiple users log the same vessel name + dates (fuzzy matching)
You can't endorse someone you haven't sailed with. Period.
Maritime Role Hierarchy Weighting
Not all endorsements are equal. A Captain endorsing a Deckhand carries more weight than peer-to-peer crew endorsements.
Weighting Formula:
- Captain → Deckhand (senior → junior): 2.0x multiplier
- Crew → Crew (peer): 1.0x multiplier
- Deckhand → Captain (junior → senior): 0.5x multiplier
- GPS-verified passage: Additional 1.5x multiplier
Example: Captain endorses Deckhand on GPS-verified passage = 2.0 × 1.5 = 3.0 weighted points
This mirrors real maritime authority structure. Your instructor's endorsement means more than your sailing buddy's.
GPS-Verified Sailing Proof LinkedIn Can't Provide
The Sea Miles Problem
LinkedIn lets you write '5,000 nautical miles offshore experience' in your bio. But can you prove it? Charter companies increasingly require proof of sea time for insurance purposes. RYA Yachtmaster requires documented qualifying miles. Professional superyacht positions demand verified passage records.
On LinkedIn, it's your word against everyone else claiming the same experience. In maritime recruitment, sea time is currency — but only if it's verifiable.
GPX Track Import & Automatic Verification
Crew the Boat lets you upload GPX files from chart plotters and sailing apps (Navionics, OpenCPN, etc.):
- Automatic Distance Calculation: Uses haversine formula to calculate nautical miles from trackpoints
- Route Visualization: GeoJSON caching for interactive map display
- Weather Data Integration: Log wind speed, sea state, COG, SOG at intervals
- Verification Badge: GPS-verified passages show green badge on your CV
- Night Hours Tracking: Proves RYA Yachtmaster requirement (minimum night hours at sea)
Sailing CV Auto-Generation
System automatically compiles:
- Total miles by role (5,200nm as Skipper, 12,400nm as Crew)
- Total night hours (156.5 hours)
- Passages count (42 passages)
- Vessels sailed (12 unique vessels)
- Waters experience (near coastal, offshore)
- Date range (first sailed May 2020, last sailed October 2025)
RYA/STCW Qualification Verification vs Self-Reported Skills
LinkedIn shows 'RYA Yachtmaster' as a skill you can add yourself. Crew the Boat verifies it with the issuing body.
Our Verification Process:
- Government ID Check: Passport or driving licence photo verification
- Certificate Upload: Upload RYA/STCW certificate PDF or photo
- Certificate Number Validation: RYA: 6-12 alphanumeric characters format validation, ENG1 (STCW): ENG followed by 7-11 digits
- Third-Party Verification: Admin contacts issuing body to confirm certificate authenticity
- Verified Badge: Green verification badge appears on profile
What We Verify:
- RYA qualifications (Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore/Ocean)
- IYT qualifications (International Yacht Training)
- STCW certificates (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping)
- MCA certificates (Maritime & Coastguard Agency)
- ENG1 medical fitness certificates
Charter companies, sailing schools, and superyacht recruitment agencies trust our verification because we don't rely on self-reporting.
Night Hours & Qualifying Miles Tracking for Competency
RYA Yachtmaster requires minimum night hours at sea. STCW certification requires documented sea time. Professional maritime positions require proof of offshore experience.
LinkedIn doesn't understand these requirements. Crew the Boat was built for them.
What We Track:
- Automatic tracking from passage timestamps
- Required for RYA Yachtmaster progression
- Displayed on sailing CV
- Inland waters (canals, rivers, lakes)
- Near coastal (up to 20 miles from safe haven)
- Offshore (beyond 20 miles)
- Day sail (<100nm)
- Coastal passage (100-499nm)
- Offshore passage (500-999nm)
- Ocean crossing (1000+nm)
- Track passages in fresh breeze, strong wind, gale, heavy weather
- Demonstrates experience in challenging conditions
RYA instructors can see if their students are logging qualifying miles. Charter companies can verify offshore experience claims. Professional recruiters can validate sea time requirements.
Waters Progression: Inland → Coastal → Offshore
Sailing progression isn't linear job promotions like 'Junior Analyst → Senior Analyst.' It's waters progression: inland → coastal → offshore → ocean.
LinkedIn shows job titles. Crew the Boat shows waters experience.
Waters Classification System:
- Canals, rivers, lakes, estuaries
- Foundation for boat handling skills
- Required for RYA qualifications
- Within 20 miles of safe haven
- Tidal navigation, pilotage
- Coastal cruising experience
- Beyond 20 miles from safe haven
- Passage planning, night navigation
- Self-sufficiency at sea
- Multi-day passages out of sight of land
- Advanced weather routing, crew management
- Ultimate competency demonstration
Your Crew the Boat profile automatically classifies passages and displays waters experience progression. Charter companies can instantly see: 'Inland: 420nm, Coastal: 2,800nm, Offshore: 1,200nm' — a complete picture LinkedIn can't provide.
Why Charter Companies Check Crew the Boat, Not LinkedIn
Charter companies have a problem: Anyone can claim sailing experience on LinkedIn. But bareboat insurance requires verified skipper qualifications. Skippered charter clients expect competent crew. One bad placement damages reputation.
That's why charter companies increasingly require:
- Verified RYA/IYT qualifications (not self-reported)
- Documented sea time (passage records, not LinkedIn job titles)
- References from previous skippers (passage-based endorsements)
- GPS-verified experience (proof, not claims)
Crew the Boat provides all four. LinkedIn provides none.
Use Cases:
- Verify RYA Day Skipper/Coastal Skipper qualifications
- Check qualifying miles in similar waters
- Confirm night hours experience
- Review passage-based endorsements from previous skippers
- Validate professional credentials (Yachtmaster, STCW)
- Verify offshore experience for passage charters
- Check weather experience (Force 6+ passages)
- STCW verification essential for insurance
- Sea time documentation required
- Professional endorsements from previous captains
- Waters progression from coastal to ocean
FindACrew and Crewseekers: Good for Finding Crew, Not for Professional Credentials
FindACrew and Crewseekers serve a purpose: connecting boat owners with crew for specific voyages. But they're classifieds platforms, not professional networks.
What They Do Well:
- Post crew opportunities
- Search for available crew by location
- Message interested sailors
What They Don't Do:
- Verify qualifications (self-reported skills only)
- Provide digital logbook (no passage tracking)
- Validate endorsements (anyone can write a reference)
- Track RYA qualifying miles
- Generate professional sailing CVs
- Offer GPS verification
The Crew the Boat Difference:
We're not just a classifieds board. We're a professional network for maritime careers. Use FindACrew to find your next passage. Use Crew the Boat to build your verified sailing CV, track qualifying miles, and prove your credentials to charter companies.
Complementary, Not Competitive:
Many sailors use both. FindACrew for immediate crew opportunities. Crew the Boat for long-term career building, qualification tracking, and professional credibility.
Getting Started: Building Your Maritime Professional Network
-
1
Create Free Account
Quick registration (email + password). No credit card required. Basic profile setup (photo, bio, experience level).
-
2
Verify Your Identity
Upload government ID (passport or driving licence). One-time verification process. Verified badge on profile.
-
3
Add Your Qualifications
Upload RYA/IYT/STCW certificates. Enter certificate numbers. We verify with issuing bodies. Green verification badge for confirmed credentials.
-
4
Log Your Passages
Enter passage details (dates, vessel, role, miles). Upload GPX tracks for GPS verification (Pro feature). Track night hours, waters, weather severity. Build your sailing CV automatically.
-
5
Connect with Sailing Partners
Invite crew from previous passages. Confirm shared voyages. Exchange passage-based endorsements. Build your maritime network.
-
6
Share Your Verified CV
Custom username: crewtheboat.com/your-name (Pro feature). QR code for yacht clubs, charter companies. Professional PDF export in RYA format (Pro feature). Public profile visible to employers.
Ready to Build Your Maritime Professional Network?
Join free and start building your verified sailing CV today. No credit card required.
- ✓ Government ID verification
- ✓ RYA/STCW qualification checks
- ✓ Passage-based endorsements
- ✓ GPS-verified logbook
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both LinkedIn and Crew the Boat?
Absolutely! Many professional sailors use LinkedIn for general networking and Crew the Boat for maritime-specific credentials. LinkedIn is great for connecting with sailing industry businesses (yacht brokers, marine suppliers, sailing schools). Crew the Boat is purpose-built for tracking sea time, verifying qualifications, and proving your sailing competency to charter companies and employers.
Is Crew the Boat only for professional sailors?
No! While we're designed for professional maritime careers, recreational sailors use us too. RYA students track qualifying miles, weekend racers log passages, cruisers document their journeys. Our free tier includes unlimited passage logging and community features.
How long does qualification verification take?
Government ID verification is usually instant. RYA/STCW certificate verification takes 1-3 business days as we contact issuing bodies to confirm authenticity. You can use the platform immediately — verification just adds the green badge.
Can I import my LinkedIn profile?
Not directly, because LinkedIn doesn't structure data in maritime-specific formats. However, you can copy your bio, add qualifications, and convert your 'experience' into passage records. Our format is designed for sailing careers, not office jobs, so manual entry ensures accuracy.
Do I need Pro to use Crew the Boat?
No! Free tier includes unlimited passage logging, qualification verification, passage-based endorsements, sailing CV builder, and profile sharing. Pro tier (£10/month) adds GPS track import, professional PDF export (RYA format), and custom username.
How is this different from FindACrew?
FindACrew is a classifieds board for finding crew opportunities. Crew the Boat is a professional network for building verified maritime credentials. Many sailors use both — FindACrew for immediate passages, Crew the Boat for long-term career development and qualification tracking.
What qualifications can you verify?
We verify RYA qualifications (Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore/Ocean, Instructor), IYT qualifications (International Yacht Training), STCW certificates (Basic Safety Training, STCW95 certification), MCA certificates (Maritime & Coastguard Agency), and ENG1 medical fitness certificates. If you have other sailing qualifications, contact us — we're expanding our verification partnerships.
Join the Maritime Professional Network Today
Don't let your sailing experience sit unverified on LinkedIn. Build your maritime professional network where it matters.